Authors Note: I'll have you all know that April seventh was, hands down, THE BEST DAY OF MY ENTIRE FREAKING LIFE AND AHHHHFOIECXNAYUXZUJ! I just can't get over it! :D :D :D Gahh. Sososo awesome! (:

Anyway, read on.

(This was supposed to be updated a few days ago . . . but then FF was being all wacky and I got busy with things again. My apologies :/)

Chapter Five:

Promise

I'm sure you're all pretty confused at this point. 'Dylan? Was Dylan back? What are you talking about, he's always been there, right?'. Well, not exactly. At least, not . . . lately. It's kind of complicated in a not . . . complicated way.

You see, after Jared's death, their parents decided that they needed a change of scenery. Their first son was dead, along with his wife and their only grandchild. It was really hard for them to cope, especially with the nature of their only remaining son, Dylan. There was nothing left to stop them from leaving New York City, which is exactly what they decided to do.

Dylan was already eighteen; a legal adult. They gave him the choice to either come with them or stay and try to tough it out on his own in the big city.

Jared's death had really sobered him up, though. They had never gotten along like brothers should, but I think in the end Dylan really did love him. He took Jared's suicide hard. That's why he didn't hesitate in packing his bags along with his parents. Last I heard they were living somewhere just outside of the city, in a suburb of New Jersey or something like that. The only reason I knew any of this is because their parents kept in contact with me. They knew how close Jared and I were.

That's why if Dylan really was back, and seemingly on his own since I hadn't gotten word of their return from his parents, it could spell trouble for all of us. Big time. My relationship with him as of now was shaky at best. There would always be a certain animosity between us. He had tried to kill me, after all. You just don't forget things like that. So yeah, towards the end he had played the good guy card.

That didn't mean I trusted him, or had any reason to really.

"See you later, Max!" Nudge called out as she began dragging Ella off to a group of their friends. She shot me a cheeky smile before turning away. I rolled my eyes, locking the car door behind me.

No matter what, my status in high school didn't change. That's why the students parted like the Red Sea as I forged through them, headed to the front doors. At first, after I had won the silver medal at National's, they had all tried to be buddy-buddy with me.

That didn't last very long, I assure you.

"Max! So good to see you," a familiar female gushed, rushing to fall into step beside me. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself that it wouldn't be good to punch a fellow classmate. Too much of a scene for my taste here. I tended to lean towards just blending during school. There were other, more important places I could stand out.

"Annabelle!" I exclaimed, mimicking her tone. "Get the hell away from me!"

She giggled, tossing a long piece of white-blond hair over her shoulder. Even as I picked up my pace to further discourage her following me, she continued to stay glued to my tail. "Oh Max, Max, Max. You are too funny! Such a comedian."

Why oh why was she so stupid?

"Seriously," I growled, glaring at her. "Get lost."

"That's so . . . cute. The way you try to act all tough and mad and stuff. Priceless! You'll have to teach me how sometime. Say this weekend? I was thinking maybe we could get together at the mall or something, and you could probably stay at my house. I can hear a slumber party calling," she said in a sing-song manner, clapping her hands together.

You know how I said everybody stopped trying to be buddy-buddy with me before? Yeah, well . . . Annabelle was the one exception to that. She was seriously delusional, as presented above. Not to mention annoying.

"I'd rather die in a hole," I stated seriously, staring straight ahead.

Once again she burst into laughter, laying her hand on my arm like she needed help standing. I came to a halt immediately, turning my icy glare on her fingers, which continued to stay curled around my arm. The seconds ticked by, and still she didn't move. I had just opened my mouth to snap at her when someone interrupted me.

"Hey Max," Fang greeted me, suddenly appearing from the shadows as per usual. I immediately shot him a look that said: 'Get her off of me before I kill someone'. He smirked, receiving my message loud and clear.

"Hi Fang." Annabelle's attention immediately shifted from me to the dark boy standing before us, her voice going low and breathy.

Uhm. Ew.

Fang nodded in acknowledgment, but didn't say anything. This didn't seem to discourage Annabelle in the slightest, which wasn't very surprising. She was completely oblivious to just about everything, in case you hadn't taken notice yet.

"How are you today?" she asked, using the same tone as before. It sent chills up my spine, and I immediately made a totally aghast expression behind her back, making Fang smirk again.

"Good," he said offhandedly.

"I'm glad to hear it," she swooned, stepping closer to Fang.

And this is another prime example of why I don't like, nor wish to put up with, Annabelle Andrews. She acts like we're best friends, and tries to make slumber party plans with me . . . then goes and starts throwing herself at my boyfriend. Cool. Just . . . cool.

The nerve of some people.

Mercifully, we were then saved by the bell. Reluctantly, Annabelle said her goodbyes, not even sparing me a glance now that Fang was present. Instead she walked her fingers up Fang's arm, leaning in to whisper something in a voice too low for me to discern. I watched Fang's reaction carefully, but his blank exterior gave absolutely nothing away. I didn't know if that was good or bad.

She finally walked away though, a little too much shake in her hips than normal. She kept glancing over her shoulder, like she expected Fang to be watching her leave. His gaze never strayed from me though, much to my triumph.

When she rounded the corner I burst into laughter, as Fang smirked and shook his head at her antics.

"She's insane," I managed to say between guffaws, pressing my hand to my mouth to contain them.

"Thanks for rescuing me from that," Fang said distastefully, wiping at his arm like she had left a visible residue.

"You know you enjoyed it," I joked, bumping him with my shoulder as we made our way to class again. The hallway had mostly emptied out, so we were virtually alone besides the few kids that ran by.

"That's very true," he replied, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Ha ha. You're funny," I scoffed, glaring at him. The corner of his mouth quirked up at this, almost a smile. He slung an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his chest. There was something forced about the action though, like he was only doing it because it was expected, not because he wanted to. The pressure of his stiff arm felt like more weight than I could manage at the moment.

More weight than I ever wanted it to feel.

- }{ -

"Iggy, do you fully comprehend how much I want to murder you in your sleep?" I growled, closing in on the tall, pale, blind boy. He cowered against the lockers, shielding his face with his hands. He knew who I was. He knew what I was capable of, even if I was slightly out of practice.

"It was an honest mistake," he insisted, now forcing his bookbag into the space between us, as if that would hold me back from ripping his head right off his neck.

"You mistakenly put a BOMB IN MY LOCKER?" I screeched, fisting the cloth of his t-shirt in my hands and wrestling him to the floor. I sat perched on his stomach, my clenched fist dangerously close to decking him in the eye. "I fail to see the mistake in that."

"I would never do that to you, Max! What kind of person do you take me for?" He gasped, mock-hurt.

"The exact kind of person that would do that," I hissed.

He thought this over for a moment then nodded, his strawberry blond hair flipping this way and that. "Yeah, you're probably right. That wasn't the best example."

"I'm going to kill you!" I shouted, just as I was pulled roughly to my feet from behind. I was immediately on high guard, twisting around with my arm cocked and ready to aim a punch, when I realized it was Fang who was holding me back. A Fang who looked like he was trying his best not to laugh.

"Hey now. Settle down children," he reprimanded us, still holding me by the waist. Smart move on his part. I was going to launch myself at Iggy the next opportunity I got. "Jeez. I leave you guys alone for two seconds, and you're already at each others throats."

"Look at me!" I yelled, gesturing to my body. "Look at what that imbecile did!"

Fang appraised my decidedly disheveled appearance, taking in the glitter now covering every inch of my front in stride. All because of Iggy, who thought it would be funny to put a bomb in my locker that would give me a sparkly shower.

I. Was. Going. To. Kill. Him.

"You have to admit it was funny," Iggy insisted from where he was propped up on his elbows, now lounging on the tile as if he did it everyday. Fang looked like he was dangerously close to agreeing. Damn him.

"Why me though?" I demanded, feeling the urge to stomp my foot like a child, though I refrained from doing so. "It would have been so much better had you done it to Fang!"

"Hey!" Fang said in warning. "I'm on your side here. Don't give him any ideas."

"Too late," I muttered sheepishly at the brilliant look on Iggy's face. He was now grinning from ear to ear, his cloudy blue eyes bright with a maniacal glint. Before we could stop him he was jumping to his feet, mumbling under his breath as he raced down the corridor and out of the school, no doubt headed to write down his next insane stunt.

Fang turned his dark glare on me, and I smiled weakly.

"On the bright side, there's a good chance he won't be bothering me for awhile," I suggested wanly. Fang didn't find it amusing. I didn't know why. I personally found the circumstances to be quite hilarious.

"I'm his ride home, so I have to go. If I don't come back, you'll know why," Fang muttered darkly, turning to leave. I grabbed his elbow to stop him though, tugging it so that he'd turn back around to face me.

"Let's test that theory. You want to hang out tonight? We can kick Ella out and watch movies or something," I proposed, grinning up at him.

"I . . ." he hesitated, his brow furrowing as his gaze shifted everywhere but at me. My smile faltered considerably. "I can't. I have other plans. Some other time, okay?"

I fought to keep a frown off my face, biting my lip so hard I thought I tasted blood. Why should I be surprised?

"Rain check. Got it," I mumbled, my eyes downcast.

Fang's hand caught my chin, gently raising it so that I had no choice but to look him in the eye. I did my best to hide my disappointment, as I stared into the emotionless rocks that were his eyes.

"I'm really sorry. We'll spend the entire weekend together, alright? I promise," he said softly, kissing me quickly before hurrying down the hall and out of sight, where Iggy could faintly be heard screaming his name, and something that sounded suspiciously like 'get your ass moving!'.

I promise. I promise. I promise.

When had promising ever meant anything?

Authors Note: I don't like this chapter. I dunno . . . it just seems . . . not good. Review please?

P.S. In honor of the best day of my life, have you met any muscians/bands you like? BECAUSE I DID AND I HUGGED ZACK AND IT WAS AMAZING AND AWESOME AND FANTASTIC AND THE ENTIRE NIGHT WAS JUST GREAT AND STUFF AND I COULD GO ON BUT I WON'T BECAUSE THEN YOU'LL GET MAD AT ME FOR WASTING YOUR TIME LIKE I AM RIGHT .. NOW NOW NOW NOW!

Whoops . . . heh heh heh. Review?